They also took into account the loss of transportation along the way and the need for local officials to eat and drink. However, they did not expect that they were still so cunning. Although they have not arrived at the place yet and do not know how much food is left in stock, Zhu Biao estimated that they would at least Half of the disaster relief food was also hacked.
Otherwise, the people affected by the disaster would not go out in groups to flee the famine. In these days, fleeing from famine is a matter of narrow escape, and it must be certain that staying in the local area is a matter of life and death.
This may also be due to the deliberate guidance of local officials. After all, the people who escaped from the disaster area naturally do not need to spend food for disaster relief, and they can get more food to share the spoils. Why not?
"Master, my dearest child, please give me a bite of your meal. Can I sleep with you for a while?"
A rather stern pleading voice came over. Zhu Biao heard the words and looked around. A young soldier of the peripheral military guard was grabbed by his trouser legs by a gray-faced woman. There was a small child behind the woman. He stared blankly at his mother's back with his fingers.
In the past, it could be said that those who heard it were sad and those who saw it shed tears, but now it only makes people feel numb and noisy. The refugees along the way just stood there for a moment, with no expression on their gray-black faces. They only walked a few steps away. , muddy tears streaked across the dirty face, leaving two quite clean tear stains.
The soldier of the Fujun Guard clenched his teeth and his face turned red. If he met him in Beijing, he would definitely donate his money generously. The Fujun Guard is the emperor's guard, and his salary is quite generous. They were born as orphans, with no high-ranking officials and no family. Naturally, he will not be stingy.
But now their food is also rationed, and he can't give away his share even if he wants to. The commander-in-chief has long ordered that his food must be eaten in his own stomach, otherwise it will be a big deal if you starve yourself and you will be unable to protect him in case of accidents. Your Highness is in trouble!
The woman's begging continued, as if she was using up all her strength. Looking at the fraying at the knees of her clothes and pants, it was clear that she had begged countless people on her knees.
Zhu Biao didn't want to listen anymore. He raised his head slightly and looked at the sun hanging high in the sky, emitting infinite light and heat, and exhaled a long breath with a trembling voice. The feeling of guilt weighed heavily on his heart.
If he was really just a young merchant, he would only sigh with pity, sigh that God is ruthless, and then ask people to give some food to him to gain psychological satisfaction. But he is the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, and these people are his people.
To be honest, Zhu Biao really didn't pay much attention to this disaster. After all, it was just a drought in Shaanxi and Gansu. It happened every year. According to the reports, it was not much worse than before. It had no impact on the overall situation at all. He was even complacent. , because he had such abundant disaster relief food.
Zhu Biao glanced at the child who was still chewing his fingers and said: "At least the women and children must find a way to settle down and don't let them starve to death!"
Chen Rongyan on the side looked bitter, and Han Zheng also frowned in embarrassment. The two of them had survived in troubled times, and such small scenes had long been commonplace, but it was understandable that Zhu Biao still had a kind heart when he was young, but this Settling in was easier said than done.
What's more, to be honest, even if we need to rescue, we should save the young and strong first. Only after the famine is over can we save the young and strong, and then there will be people to cultivate and build, and children will soon be born again if we have young and strong.
Han Zheng comforted him in a low voice: "Young Master is kind, but it is easy to save people. More than 40,000 stones of food are not enough to help these women and children along the way for a long time, but it doesn't make sense. Merchants put profit first, so you still have to save people." You have to take the overall situation into consideration.”
Chen Rongyan also advised: "We can just keep these two girls. No matter how poor they are, just secretly send them some food so that they can go to prosperous villages and towns. There are still hundreds of thousands of victims in the disaster area waiting for you to save them." In water and fire.”
Zhu Biao exhaled and said: "Leave ten thousand shi of grain and set up a camp nearby. Speaking in the name of the Chen family, he said that he was going to select some suitable young girls to sell to Suzhou and Hangzhou. The daily supply does not need to be too much." Good clear soup and porridge are enough, someone will take over.”
Chen Rongyan smiled bitterly and said: "Master, it's not that I'm reluctant to give up my own reputation, but it's really not convincing. My Chen family is now a direct descendant of the East Palace. No matter how great the benefits are, I will never do such a thing."
Zhu Biao was not surprised and then continued: "These are for the refugees. In this way, anyone who has some foundation will not send their children. As for the rest, it is an order from His Highness the Crown Prince, instructing the Chen family to collect orphans along the way." After being sent to Xuzhou, it wouldn’t have been more than a year or two since the prince had done this kind of thing, so it must have spread throughout the officialdom.”
Chen Rongyan frowned and looked at Han Zheng, who didn't quite understand. Han Zheng grinned, and it was indeed spread throughout the country. These nobles talked about it when they were drinking in private. It is taboo to recruit a large number of orphans in private, no matter what era.
After all, the purpose is obvious, that is, to cultivate the confidants of dead soldiers. Quan Xu, who once followed His Highness the Crown Prince, suddenly disappeared from the officialdom, and everyone was even more sure.
Counting the number of orphans who had gathered since the emigration of Fengyang, everyone was trembling in their hearts, and even sighed for Zhu Yuanzhang. His fatherly heart was unabashed.
They all couldn't help but think, if the prince had such a number of dead soldiers and confidants, wouldn't the Holy One be afraid?
Even though father and son are getting along well now, that is because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is young. When he becomes fully fledged and raises his arms in the future, it will probably be easier than when Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty made the Xuanwu Sect change.
Even though everyone knew it, no one dared to say it openly. Even the nerds at Yushitai knew that this kind of thing was not allowed. The emperor would not tolerate anyone who spoke about it, and the same was true for His Highness the Crown Prince.
Han Zheng thought for a while and said: "But it makes sense. The year of famine is a good time to recruit suitable candidates. Even the officials in Shaanxi and Gansu did not dare to send people to investigate in detail after hearing about it, and they would make sure that we are Prince Feng." His Highness ordered me to sell food and collect orphans."
After hearing this, Chen Rongyan shuddered and hurriedly went down to do things. Han Zheng also fell silent, and Zhu Biao didn't say much. It was a secret that the father and son planned to replace the pro-army Duwei Mansion with Jin Yiwei, and the rest of them naturally I have been speculating silently in my heart for a long time.
The woman and her child were also taken away and placed in the afternoon. The suffering of the people at the bottom is just a thought for those in power. The honor and disgrace of life and death are in their hearts. What can they do?
After the mother and son were taken away, the surrounding refugees immediately went crazy. They knelt down, kowtowed and begged incessantly, especially the young and strong, who were crowded at the front, while the old, weak, sick and disabled were all at the end holding up their hands and crying.
It was as if the monsters and monsters were screaming, everyone wanted to live, their stomachs were so hungry that they would do anything if anyone could give them a bite to eat.
………………
