"My brother obeys the order!"
Zhu Youjian replied that he had been educated by Zhu Youxiao for many years, so he naturally understood what Zhu Youxiao meant and knew that this matter in Shaanxi was related to the Ming Dynasty.
Therefore, Zhu Youjian also knew that what he had to do next was very important.
If he doesn't care about the life and death of these people who are suffering from hunger and death, no one will care about the life and death of his Zhu family in the future.
"The hearts of scholars do not represent the hearts of the people."
"And the true people's sentiments are often inaudible. You have to investigate carefully yourself. Only by looking carefully can you know what the people's sentiments are."
Zhu Youji thought of what Emperor Zhu Youxiao had said to him before.
Like the very diligent Emperor Chongzhen in history, Zhu Youjian, the King of Letters in this life, was also very diligent after taking charge of the matter assigned to him by Zhu Youxiao. He said goodbye to Zhu Youxiao overnight, and then took Lu Xiangsheng, who assisted him, with him. Ma Maocai and I first went to Mizhi County, Yan'an Prefecture, where the drought was most serious.
As for Emperor Zhu Youxiao, he and the army still stayed in Suidezhou. As Zhu Youjian's backing, when necessary, he could directly use force to suppress it.
The wealthy gentry in Yan'an Prefecture soon learned through some channels that King Xin Zhu Youjian had been ordered to come to Shaanxi to supervise disaster relief and civilian matters.
"His Royal Highness King Xin is about to come to Mizhi County. As a prominent family in this county, you should set an example by providing more food and setting up some porridge factories. Don't let His Highness think that we are rich and unkind. You all know the temper of the current Holy Emperor. , if you really ask King Xin to hand such words to the emperor, you may be punished for some crime, even if it is just a pretense, it is okay."
Yan Zibin, the magistrate of Mizhi County, also summoned all the gentry in Mizhi County to discuss the matter.
Juren Ai Zhao knew that Magistrate Yan wanted to take this opportunity to let the gentry like him donate grain and make a fortune, so he said: "It's okay to donate more grain, but we don't have much left. If we can’t hold on for a few days, please ask the county magistrate to explain it to His Highness.”
"That's right! The severe drought that lasted from last year to this year has not only damaged small households, but also large households like us with a large population. When it comes to donating food, we can only donate fifty dan if we build a house. , if you want to add more, you can’t add more, please ask the county to respect Haihan.”
Supervisor Gailong also started talking at this time.
Next, other wealthy gentry households in Mizhi County also complained one after another.
Yan Zibin felt quite unhappy when he saw that these gentry began to cry for poverty one by one as soon as they heard that he asked them to donate food. However, he did not want to offend these people, so he still smiled and said: "As the saying goes, thin A dead camel is bigger than a horse. Please do your best. It is also for the sake of the peace of your hometown. In addition to donating some grain to the county government to organize people to give porridge, you can also open a porridge factory. Again, your highness must see it. Thanks to your benevolence, this is something that is good for you."
Zhu Youjian has arrived at Yinchuan Station in Mizhi County.
Because the post station has always been an important transportation thoroughfare and the location of a prosperous market town.
Therefore, there are many victims begging in this area.
When Zhu Youjian appeared here, he saw that both sides of the post road were crowded with victims behind the spear-wielding post soldiers. They were all sallow and thin, holding broken bowls, and looked at him helplessly.
This shocked him, who had been living in the capital and grew up in a palace. He had never thought that people could be so poor.
Zhu Youjian suddenly thought of the four words "sorrow, sorrow, hunger and death" that often appeared in books. Only then did he realize how heavy these four abstract words were when he read them.
However, what pleased Zhu Youjian was that there were porridge factories on both sides of the post house, and the steaming porridge sheds spread the aroma to his nostrils.
"This Magistrate Yan is a good official who does his duty and does not leave these victims alone."
Zhu Youjian therefore said to the governor Ma Maocai who was accompanying him.
Ma Maocai just smiled awkwardly. He didn't believe that Yan Zibin would bring enough food to help the victims. In his opinion, this was just Yan Zibin doing it to show King Xin.
"Yan Zibin, the magistrate of Mizhi County, has met His Highness King Xin."
Yan Zibin was already waiting here with the officials and gentry of Mizhi County, and after Zhu Youjian appeared, he gave a grand ceremony.
Zhu Youjian hurriedly exempted these people from the courtesy, and immediately asked Yan Zibin about the drought situation, asking: "How many days will the county government's porridge be enough?"
"Back to Your Highness, thanks to the emperor's grace, although the disaster in Mizhi is serious, I have already raised a lot of food, which is enough to feed the victims for two months."
Yan Zibin replied.
Zhu Youjian nodded after listening: "Within two months, the first batch of grain from the imperial court should be delivered. In this way, people in Mizhi County will not starve to death again."
Zhu Youjian continued walking to the county seat as he spoke, and continued to inspect the victims along the way.
But what surprised Zhu Youjian was that along the way, he found that many wealthy gentry households were very generous and kind, and they all set up porridge sheds in front of their respective villages to provide porridge.
Therefore, Zhu Youjian couldn't help but continued to Yan Zibin: "Yan Zhixian, I didn't realize that the wealthy gentry in Mizhi County are not unkind and are actively helping the victims, which is quite gratifying."
Yan Zibin saw that Zhu Youjian had been deceived by him, so he smiled without blushing and said: "Going back to your highness, all the gentry and gentry in this county are grateful for the emperor's kindness and considerate of the hardships of the people. Therefore, they are all willing to show kindness to the ministers." After urging, they all actively donated food and even took the initiative to provide disaster relief."
Zhu Youjian nodded after listening.
Ma Maocai became quite anxious after hearing this. He wanted to remind Zhu Youjian not to be deceived by these superficial phenomena. If these wealthy gentry were really so generous and benevolent, and officials really cared so much about the lives and deaths of the people, he would have been a governor long ago. After solving the drought in Shaanxi, there is no need to give His Majesty a memorial that exposes the hidden worries of the prosperous times, and His Majesty does not have to send you, a member of the royal family, to provide disaster relief. You just want to use your royal status to force the gentry to requisition food for disaster relief.
However, Ma Maocai was not in a hurry to remind Zhu Youjian. Instead, he cupped his hands and said to Zhu Youjian: "Your Highness, please stop for a moment."
With that said, Ma Maocai rushed straight to the porridge shed in front of him.
Yan Zibin looked a little embarrassed when he saw this, but he couldn't let others stop the governor.
When Ma Maocai arrived at the porridge shed, he directly grabbed the iron spoon from Li Hongji, the postman who was temporarily arranged to serve porridge, and then put the iron spoon into the porridge soup in front of him. Seeing that the consistency was quite high, he couldn't say anything else. He only told Li Hongji: "Follow me."
So, Li Hongji followed Ma Maocai to Zhu Youjian.
After Ma Maocai brought Li Hongji to Zhu Youjian, he said to Zhu Youjian: "Your Highness, you might as well ask him how many days will the porridge in this porridge shed be enough?"
"It would be better for me to report this to His Highness."
Yan Zibin replied with an awkward smile.
"Zhixian Yan, you don't have to answer."
Ma Maocai replied directly.
Yan Zibin had no choice but to shut up, his face turning red for a moment.
"What's your name? What kind of errand are you doing at the county government? This porridge is enough for a few days."
At this time, Zhu Youjian asked Governor Ma Maocai about Li Hongji in front of him.
"Back to Your Highness! My name is Li Hongji, and he is a postman of Yinchuan Post. Now I am serving porridge here according to the order from above. The porridge in the porridge shed is only enough for three days."
Li Hongji replied.
Yan Zibin glanced at Li Hongji suddenly, and he couldn't help but think to himself: "If I had known that this man named Li Hongji would be arrested and questioned by Futai, I should have warned him earlier! However, this honest and caring Ma Futai also It's really abominable! As expected, people in the same year said that a Shangguan who doesn't like to accept gifts is more uncomfortable than a greedy Shangguan. Now it seems that this is indeed the case."
"Only enough for three days?"
Zhu Youjian realized something was wrong at this time, frowned and asked Yan Zibin: "Zhixian Yan, didn't you say that these porridges can last for two months?"
Yan Zibin suddenly broke out in cold sweat on his forehead.
Seeing this, Ma Maocai also said: "Zhixian Yan, please get back to His Highness quickly!"
Yan Zibin had no choice but to bite the bullet and replied: "This is just the first batch of grain. There will be other grains in succession. They will be transferred from various gentry and big households who are willing to donate grain. Please rest assured, Your Highness, I said it will be done in two months." Two months.”
"Um."
Zhu Youjian nodded and continued walking forward.
Yan Zibin breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but wipe the sweat on his forehead.
For a while, after going to the county government office, Ma Maocai found an opportunity to be alone with Zhu Youjian and said: "Your Highness, you can't be deceived by their appearance. If these wealthy gentry are really so generous and kind, if this If Yanzhi County is really good at raising food, then there won't be so many disaster victims in the Suidezhou area. Please give your Highness a warning! In addition, if the local officials can solve this matter, why would Your Majesty send you to drain this muddy water? Please Your Highness, think about it carefully!”
The innocent Zhu Youjian understood what Ma Maocai said and said, "With what you said, how can I see the real situation?"
"His Highness can pretend that because Mizhi County has been able to provide disaster relief, he decided to leave Mizhi County and go to Anding County the next day. But after a few days, His Highness can return to Mizhi County in casual clothes, and he will definitely see Mizhi County by then. Special situation in Zhi County.”
Ma Maocai suggested.
Zhu Youjian nodded: "Just what you said."
The next day, Zhu Youjian therefore said to Yan Zibin: "Since the victims of the disaster in Mizhi County have been resettled properly, I don't need to stay here for a long time to hinder your official duties. I have to leave Mizhi County today and go to Go to Anding, and I will truthfully inform the emperor about the good deeds of your county magistrate Yan and the gentry of Mizhi. In addition, as far as I know, many large households lend money to the common people. Now that there is such a big disaster, some loans Avoid it if you can, postpone it if you can, and don't push the people too hard, otherwise it won't be good if trouble occurs. I hope Magistrate Yan will use this initiative to encourage all the Jin gentry."
"Don't worry, Your Highness, all the gentry have stopped collecting debts at the initiative of my subordinates!"
Yan Zibin replied.
Shortly after Zhu Youjian left, Yan Zibin ordered: "Withdraw all the food from the porridge shed! The porridge will be distributed until today! All the victims who have been admitted to the city are rushed out of the city! In addition, take away the food from yesterday's I asked the postman Li Hongji to find an excuse to dismiss me from his post!"
With that said, Yan Zibin returned to the inner courtyard of the county government and continued to say to his close aides: "Count all the food that has been withdrawn and see how much is left. When the time comes, we will first go to Yulinwei to find merchants in the local border towns to exchange for silver, and then Then transport it home.”
…
"Master! I don't remember that I have ever lost any official documents." Li Hongji was talking to Yinchuan Yicheng Gong Yuancheng in confusion, because Gong Yuancheng suddenly called him and told him that he had lost it. He had obtained the official document and wanted to remove him from his post, which made him feel very wronged.
"You are still making excuses. You have obviously lost official documents. If you don't believe me, ask other people in the post station if this is the case! You have not been punished for a serious crime, but the county magistrate is already showing mercy. What else do you want! Get out of my place!" "
Gong Yuancheng shouted loudly because of this.
Li Hongji couldn't help but said: "I didn't give you any benefits during the holidays, so why did you suddenly sack me?"
When Gong Yuancheng heard this, he was furious and slapped the table: "You are talking nonsense! When did I accept your benefits? I think you don't want to live anymore, right?"
"No, no, never."
When Li Hongji saw Gong Yuancheng threatening him with death, he did not dare to say anything more. He quickly denied it and left Yicheng Gong Yuancheng in despair.
As soon as he couldn't get out in time, Li Hongji happened to meet Ai Juren.
Ai Juren ordered his servants to surround him and said, "Li Hongji, how long will your debt be delayed?"
Li Hongji had no choice but to plead immediately: "Master Ai, please give me a few more days of grace. I will definitely fight back as soon as possible."
Ai Juren shouted directly: "Grace? There is so much time to give you grace! If you don't pay back tomorrow, you will pay with your life!"
With that said, Ai Juren sat on the sliding pole and left here.
Li Hongji felt even more desperate because of this. He had just lost his job and had no money to pay off his debts.
There was a leak in the house and it rained all night. As soon as Li Hongji got home, he happened to see his wife Han Jiaer having an affair with a man named Gai Hu.
Li Hongji, who was already in a bad mood, found out that he had been cuckolded by his wife. Naturally, he was furious. He immediately picked up a kitchen knife and rushed in: "What an adulterer**! Let me see if I don't kill you!"
Upon seeing this, the adulterer Gai Hu immediately climbed out of the window and escaped.
At this time, Li Hongji opened the curtain and came in. When he saw that the adulterer had escaped and only his wife was there, he was so angry that he had no intention of taking care of the adulterer and killed his wife first.
After killing the people, Li Hongji became a little frightened. He couldn't help but drop his knife and hurriedly escaped from Mizhi County.
…
However, not long after Li Hongji escaped, he met Zhu Youjian and his party who returned to Mizhi County.
Li Hongji, whose life was at stake, was naturally frightened when he saw Zhu Youjian and others representing the imperial court, and hurriedly turned around and ran in the other direction.
Zhu Youjian shouted: "Catch him!"
Not long after, Li Hongji was captured.
"Why are you running?"
Zhu Youjian asked because of this.
Li Hongji denied it flatly: "I was afraid because I saw His Majesty's majesty."
Zhu Youjian continued to ask: "Why did you come out with your baggage? Aren't you a postman? How could you leave without permission?!"
Li Hongji had no choice but to reply honestly: "Your Highness, the younger one has been dismissed from his post. Because he cannot repay Ai Juren's debt, he has to run away!"
"Debt? What debt? Usury?"
Zhu Youjian grasped the key points and asked further questions.
Li Hongji replied: "Yes, due to the disaster, the price of food is much higher than in previous years, and it costs a lot of money to eat. In addition, I have planned this job as a postman and gave gifts to the postmaster. I can only borrow it." Usury! I originally wanted to repay it with the money I earned at the inn, but now I have been dismissed from my job without reason, and then Mr. Ai is rushing to collect the debt. I really can’t live anymore!”
Zhu Youjian couldn't help but raise his eyebrows after listening. He didn't expect that the magistrate and gentry of Mizhi County were lying to him and did not stop collecting debts.
"Speaking of it, he was dismissed because of me. Your Highness, why don't you let him follow me as an official? After entering the city, he may be needed for some things."
Ma Maocai suggested at this time.
"allow!"
Zhu Youjian replied.
Li Hongji, who had nowhere to go, immediately kowtowed and thanked him as if he had been granted amnesty.
Then, Zhu Youjian took Li Hongji and others to Mizhi County.
As a result, as soon as Zhu Youjian arrived in Mizhi County, he saw a large number of victims crowded outside the city. Many of the people who were still in the city were being driven out by officials, and the porridge shed that was still there yesterday was also removed.
"What's going on? Why have all the victims been driven out? Why were the several porridge shacks here yesterday also evacuated?"
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