Li Chouxin and others stayed in the small courtyard for the last night and then left Xijing.
"Master, where are we going now?" Zai Xiaopan asked.
Seyu said at this time: "You silly boy, do you even need to ask this? Of course you are going to Tianmu Mountain. Don't you miss your other master wives? If you don't want to, naturally someone will think about you."
"Se Yu is right, we are going to Tianmu Mountain, but there are still about three months until the end of the year. We can go there while having fun. By the time we reach Tianmu Mountain, it will be almost time." Li Chouxin said.
"Brother Chouxin, where should we go now?" Si Yao asked.
Li Chou thought for a while and said, "Let's go to Yushui first! I heard that the prosperity there is no less than that of Xijing, and there are tens of millions of poets gathering there. Chou Xin, I naturally want to go and hang out for a while."
"Okay, it's all up to you." Qinyin said.
After three days of walking on the road, they finally arrived outside Yushui City.
But Yushui City is not as prosperous as Li Chouxin said. There are refugees fleeing everywhere outside the city, and their cries are everywhere. It is really difficult to connect this with the prosperous ancient capital in the past.
Li Chouxin and others were about to enter the city when they saw a thin young man in simple clothes among the refugees asking about the situation of the refugees. The people behind him were listening to his instructions and distributing a few pancakes among the refugees. In the hands of refugees.
"Who is that person?" Li Chou asked a refugee curiously.
"You must have just come here. You don't even know Lord Du. He is the savior of refugees like us. If it weren't for Lord Du, most of us would have starved to death." The man introduced with gratitude. .
"Master Du? Please tell me in detail!" Li Chouxin said as she took out a piece of dry food from her bag and handed it to the man.
The man took the dry food and then began to introduce it slowly.
"This Master Du is named Du Jin. He does not hold any official position, but what he does is more like an adult than those dog officials, so the people respectfully call him Master Du. We are all refugees from the south, but After arriving here, the officers and soldiers guarding the city refused to let me enter the city. I had no choice but to stay outside the city. I had no place to go and no food to eat. It was miserable. But since Mr. Du discovered us, he ignored us. The government stopped us, but they came every day to inquire about the situation and even gave us some food rations. Although it was not much, it was enough to make us grateful."
After hearing what the refugees said, Li Chouxin couldn't help but take another look at the thin young man. Judging from the clothes the man was wearing, he didn't really look like a well-off person, but his behavior was indeed admirable.
"Master Du is actually a frustrated man. He failed in the scientific examination ten years ago, so he began to travel around the country to express his ambitions. It was only when he met our refugees here that he stopped. After all, Mr. Du is also a person who lives in the world, but he still can't see the suffering of the people. Such Bodhisattva-hearted people should be reused by the court instead of letting corrupt officials who enrich their own pockets do whatever they want."
Hearing these words again, Li Chou suddenly felt a sense of sympathy for heroes. After all, Du Jin's experience was very similar to his own before. He wanted to go up and get acquainted, but was interrupted by the sound of the piano.
"Brother Chou Xin, Mr. Du is busy right now. Anyway, we will stay here for a few more days. Mr. Du is also in the city. Why don't we go to the city first? It won't be too late to make friends again when we have the opportunity."
Li Chouxin looked at the exhausted faces behind her and said, "Okay, I see you are tired today, so let's go into the city."
Li Chouxin and his party led the horses towards the city, but Li Chouxin looked back at the young man as they walked. However, Du Jin only paid attention to asking about the situation of the refugees and did not notice anyone entering the city.
What makes people feel strange is that when a few people entered the city, the scene in the city was completely different.
The city is full of scenery, beautiful everywhere, and prosperous. It is difficult to connect it with the scene outside the city.
"No wonder these officers and soldiers guarding the city don't let the refugees enter the city. They are actually afraid that the refugees will disturb all the bustling scenes. They are really bad officials." Si Yao said.
Li Chouxin also nodded and said: "Yes, such officials are indeed unworthy of their duties. Instead of helping refugees, they reject them in this way. They are really not qualified parents. It's hateful."
Zhang Xiaopan was also furious. After all, he had been begging with Pei Chen for a while. What he hated most was the government that bullied others and didn't care about the lives of the people.
Li Chouxin said: "That's all, we'll discuss this later. For now, let's find an inn to stay in."
A few people continued walking forward, and an inn came into view.
Luo Lanxuan doesn't sound like the name of an inn, but the couplet in front of the door clearly means an inn.
I saw that the couplet read: "The orchid follows the guest's dream, a lamp that understands the sorrowful heart."
"Brother Chouxin, this inn seems to be destined for you, why not stay here." Qinyin said.
Li Chouxin also had this intention and nodded.
Several people walked into the inn and were greeted by a polite waiter who looked like he had read some books.
"The second brother doesn't look simple. His conversation is full of literati style." Li Chouxin said.
The waiter replied: "My guest is joking. He just read a few books randomly next to the boss. He is not a scholar."
"Oh! It seems that your boss is also an interesting person. He must introduce him to me."
Seeing that Li Chou was interested, the waiter said: "My boss has a weird temperament and rarely sees people. In the whole Yushui, I am the only one with whom I can have a good conversation with Mr. Du Jin. You must have seen the city when you entered the city just now." The person outside is probably Mr. Du. As for my boss, it depends on fate if you want to get to know him."
Li Chou was puzzled, but the waiter asked: "Sir, how many rooms do you want?"
Li Chouxin said: "Four rooms!"
"Qinyin Seyu, you two are in one room, Si Yao and Linger are in one room, Xiao Pan is in another room, and I am in one room. Do you have any objections?" Li Chouxin asked the people behind him.
Several people smiled at Li Chouxin. Li Chouxin suddenly felt bad and said to the waiter: "Excuse me, waiter, there are only four rooms."
The waiter collected the money and took a few people upstairs. Fortunately, the four rooms were connected, which was a lot more convenient. They also entered the room separately.
Li Chouxin grabbed the waiter and asked, "Brother, can you tell me about Mr. Du's deeds?"
But the waiter smiled and said: "Young Master, there is no need to rush. This Young Master Du also lives here. If you have anything you want to know, you might as well have the opportunity to ask Young Master Du yourself. The main reason is that my boss has told me not to ask Young Master Du at will." matter."
After listening to the waiter's words, Li Chouxin didn't ask any more questions. Since they both lived here, there was always a chance to meet. So he said: "Go and get us some food, divide it into several portions and send them to their rooms. I have to go out and take a look at the night view of Yushui."
After saying that, Li Chouxin secretly walked out of the inn and walked towards the street.
The waiter delivered the food to each room as instructed.
"Little brother, have you given the young master's as well?" Qinyin asked.
"No, the young master said he wanted to go out for a walk. He was afraid that you would be too tired from the journey, so he didn't call you. He has been out for a while."
After listening to the waiter's words, Qinyin didn't ask any more questions.
Li Chou was walking on the street, but what he was thinking about was the refugees outside the city, so he headed towards the residence of the governor of Yushui.
Arriving at the gate of Sima Jun's mansion, the governor of Yushui, Li Chouxin walked up, but was stopped by the guard at the door. In the past, he would have solved it with a single sword, but now that he was a prince, there was no need to do so.
"Where did you come from? Don't you know this is the governor's mansion?"
Li Chou smiled and said, "Of course I know that I am here to discuss important matters with the Governor. Please inform me."
Seeing that Li Chouxin was dressed in ordinary clothes and that he was not a local figure, the guard said rudely: "You are just here to make fun of me. The governor has many things to do. You can see him whenever you want, so why don't you retreat quickly?"
Li Chouxin didn't want to take out the seal in his arms, but he had no choice at this moment. He took out the gold seal with the 'Prince Seal of Southern Sichuan' and a token, handed it to the guard, and said, "I don't want to embarrass you. Please take these two things." Just hand it over to the governor."
The guard looked at the seal and began to feel uneasy. He did not dare to be careless. He changed his previous attitude and said politely: "Sir, wait a moment. I will go and report it now."
At this time, it was just before dark. Sima Jun, the governor of Yushui, was having dinner with several ladies. When he saw the guard coming in, he said angrily: "Are you blind? Didn't you see that I am accompanying you, sir?" Do you want to eat with Madam?"
"Sir, it's not that the little guy is ignorant, it's just that someone came outside and asked the little kid to hand this thing over to the adults," the guard replied.
"What is it, bring it to me."
The guard presented the thing. Sima Jun took it, but his expression changed drastically and his hands began to tremble. The guard didn't know why and asked, "Sir, is there any problem?"
"You bitch, I almost got killed by you. Where is this noble man? Take me there quickly."
Seeing Sima Jun behaving like this, the guard knew that the matter was not simple, so he answered truthfully: "Sir, that man is outside the gate of the mansion. I thought he was a liar and didn't let him in."
"You blind thing, do you know who that is? That's the prince!" Sima Jun said and ran out in a hurry.
When he arrived at the door, he saw a man standing at the door. Sima Jun shouted from a distance: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. These young men are blind and have neglected Your Majesty. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Sima Jun shouted that he had arrived in front of Li Chouxin, returned the seal, and said: "Your Majesty came to the house this time. It was a sin for me to accept you from afar due to my humble position. I hope you will forgive me."
But Li Chouxin said: "It's okay, Lord Sima, I have something to discuss with you this time, so there is no need to be so formal."
Hearing what Li Chouxin said, Sima Jun breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, you must not have eaten yet. Why don't you go in and eat and talk? What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Li Chouxin nodded and walked in after being greeted by Sima Jun.
Sima Jun said: "Go and prepare some good wine and food. Today we are going to receive the wind for the prince."
The two of them arrived at the hall, and the servants brought good wine and food one after another. Li Chouxin looked at the delicious food on the table and said to Sima Jun: "It seems that you are living a comfortable life!"
Sima Jun didn't know what he meant by this, but he always felt that the prince in front of him came with bad intentions, so he said: "When the prince comes, of course he must be well prepared, otherwise it will be a slight to the prince, and he cannot bear such a humble position."
Li Chouxin looked at the cunning Sima Jun and didn't care about that. He sat down and started eating and drinking. After all, he was really hungry.
Seeing Li Chouxin starting to eat, Sima Jun felt relieved a little.
"Your Majesty, I wonder why you came to see me at the humble post?"
Li Chouxin wanted to talk after eating, but she lost her appetite after being asked this question. She came here for the refugees outside the city, but she was eating and drinking here. Her face suddenly became serious and she asked Sima Jun.
"Does the governor know about the refugees outside the city?"
Sima Jun was startled by this question and said quickly: "I know that I know."
"Then why don't you deny them entry into the city and don't go to rescue them?"
Sima Jun began to sweat on his forehead and said: "Your Majesty doesn't know that the number of refugees is huge. If you let them into the city rashly, the order in the city will definitely be chaotic. I thought that if I let them starve outside the city for a few days, they would naturally leave." , so that's why..."
"Okay, aren't the people outside Yushui City human? If you don't go to rescue them, why don't you go to the court?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I thought it was a trivial matter because of my humble position, and I didn't dare to disturb His Majesty, so I didn't report it. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
After hearing this, Li Chouxin was very angry and said: "Okay, so this is how you become the governor. If the life and death of the people is just a trivial matter in your eyes, then you are not an official."
Sima Jun immediately knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I will report to the court tomorrow. If you have any instructions from me, just tell me. I will do my best."
After hearing this, Li Chou calmed down and said: "Although the refugees entering the city will indeed disrupt the order in the city, if this continues, wouldn't it mean that we are ignoring the refugees outside the city? Well, tomorrow you will take people to build a tent outside the city. Give porridge, from tomorrow onwards, if another person dies of hunger, you will no longer need to be an official."
Sima Jun knew the importance of Li Chouxin in the emperor's heart. After hearing what Li Chouxin said, he didn't dare to say a word and just said "good" repeatedly.
"I won't embarrass you. Tomorrow you go to open a warehouse to give porridge. I will send a handwritten letter to Kyoto together with your memorial. I will also bring my seal with me. It's just that before the imperial court's rescue plan comes down, you porridge You have to put up a shed, otherwise I won't let you go." After Li Chouxin said this, he asked someone to bring a pen and paper, edit a letter, and then gave the seal to Sima Jun.
Sima Jun also wrote a memorial in time and sent someone to Kyoto overnight.
Li Chouxin felt a little relieved and said: "Master Governor, if this matter is handled well, it may be good for you. Today's emperor is no longer what he used to be. He is very wise. I hope you can understand."
After Li Chouxin finished speaking, he left the Governor's Mansion and returned to the inn.
As soon as he entered the inn, he saw Du Jin sitting by the window in the lobby on the first floor, drinking alone.
Li Chouxin walked over and saw that there was only a plate of peanuts and a plate of cold dishes on Du Jin's table, which was a bit shabby.
"Young Master is drinking alone. Do you need someone to keep you company?"
Du Jin raised his head and saw the extraordinary person in front of him. The jade tree faced the wind and said, "Master, if you don't mind, please sit down and drink together."
After Li Chouxin sat down, he called the waiter and said: "Second brother, bring some wine and meat. If there is no wine and meat, you won't be able to enjoy the wine."
Du Jin said: "The people's livelihood is suffering, and all my expenses have been used to help those people, but I can't afford to do this to you."
But Li Chouxin said: "Don't worry, Mr. Du. I already know what you have done, and I admire you. I will treat you to this meal. I also ask you, Mr. Du, not to worry too much, just drink to your heart's content."
While the two were talking, the waiter had already brought the wine and meat.
Du Jin said: "Since the young master insists on this, it would be rude for me to refuse."
"It's okay, it's okay. Young Master, please be casual. The friends I, Li Chouxin, like to make should be friends like Young Master. I wonder if Young Master would like to be friends with me?"
"So you are Li Chouxin!" Du Jin was shocked.
Seeing Du Jin's reaction, Li Chouxin was also confused.
The two of them looked at each other, waiting for the other to explain.
