"Tongguan?"
Yuan Keli was slightly startled. Looking at the new graves bulging dozens of meters away, he thought of a sentence, prosperity means the people suffer, and death means the people suffer.
Tongguan is adjacent to the peaks of Huashan Mountain to the south and the plains of western Henan to the east. The terrain is high and steep, with ravines and ravines throughout the territory. It is both offensive and defensive. It is known as the key to the Three Qin Dynasty and has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times.
After passing Tongguan, one enters Shaanxi territory. This is true for refugees outside Tongguan, not to mention drought-stricken central areas such as Weinan and Weibei within the pass.
After sighing with emotion, Yuan Keli was shocked.
Yesterday I received a report from Jin Yiwei that the emperor killed Wei Zhongxian and liquidated the eunuchs.
At this moment, he very much hoped that the disaster in Shaanxi could be brought under control and the civil uprising could be appeased, so that he could return to Beijing immediately and be able to do so many things.
"Cui Ming, you arrange for people to leave Tongguan and enter Shaanxi to find out the news. We will not stop at Tongguan City. We will go as far as we can today."
"good!"
After Cui Ming made arrangements, Yuan Keli also got on the carriage, and the team set off again, drifting away.
Only a few new graves stood quietly, and a few old birds were hovering in the air, making croaking sounds, adding to the desolation.
At nightfall, everyone finally passed through Tongguan and arrived at Tongguan Station located northwest of Tongguan.
After showing the tokens and post talismans, everyone settled down.
In the room, Cui Ming handed over a hot towel: "Mr. Ge, please wash your face first. Dinner will be ready in a while!"
Yuan Keli took the towel and put it on his face. The heat made him feel comfortable all over.
"No...there's something wrong with this inn."
Yuan Keli suddenly said something, Cui Ming's whole body was trembling, the long knife was in his hand instantly, and he looked around vigilantly: "Mr. Ge, what's wrong?"
"Cui Ming, Tongguan Post Station is located at the junction of the three provinces of Qin, Jin and Henan. It has been a strategic transportation location since ancient times. It is the first post station entering Guanzhong. This kind of large post station is equipped with at least fifty post soldiers, as well as sedan bearers and horsemen. Wait for several names,
But when we first arrived, there were only a few people there, which was very wrong. "
Cui Ming was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized: "By the way, after we left Tongguan, we didn't find a single refugee for more than ten miles. This is too abnormal."
"Let's go and ask the postmaster!"
A moment later, in the lobby of the post station, Yuan Keli sat in the middle, Cui Ming was guarding him behind him, and in front of him was the postmaster of Tongguan Post Station.
"I beg you, Wan Feng, the postmaster of Tongguan Post, has met Mr. Ge!"
"Get up, I have something to ask you!"
After Wanfeng got up, Yuan Keli said in a deep voice: "Tongguan Post Station is equipped with fifty postmen and dozens of others. But why is it so miserable now?"
Wanfeng was silent. Seeing this, Yuan Keli slammed the table: "Wanfeng, you should be aware that you have delayed the delivery of documents and will be beaten eighty with the rod. This will delay the military situation and punish the three tribes. I will give you another chance to recruit them from the truth." .”
Plop...
Wanfeng knelt down and said, "Mr. Ge, there is a drought in Shaanxi and the people cannot survive. There are no postmen nearby and all the original postmen have defected."
"Mr. Ge, not only our Tongguan Post Station, but at least half of the postmen in the entire post station in Shaanxi Province have escaped, and even less than one out of ten has escaped."
After hearing this, Yuan Keli's face turned completely gloomy.
He knew very well that there was a problem with the post station in the Ming Dynasty. Some time ago, His Majesty killed Mao Yujian, the imperial censor, and asked the Ministry of War to investigate thoroughly, but he did not expect that it would be so serious.
If there is a war in the northwest and the station is like this, the consequences will be disastrous.
Is the postmaster responsible for this situation? There is some responsibility, but it is more about the imperial court's management of the inn. To put it bluntly, it wants the horse to run but also wants the horse not to eat grass.
"Why are there no refugees all the way from Tongguan to here?"
Wanfeng was about to answer when someone walked in quickly. Yuan Keli took a glance and found that it was Xiao Qi Peng Chun who was sent to inquire about the news.
"After leaving Tongguan, Mr. Ge, I visited more than a dozen villages and towns in the southwest and found that the refugees were concentrated outside Mengyuan County.
Now that the city gates are closed, Beizhong cannot enter the city to inquire about the news. Beizhong made a preliminary estimate and found that there were at least five thousand people. No rescue measures were seen at the scene. It is said that dozens of people starved to death every day. "
Yuan Keli stood up suddenly, his eyes full of anger.
In such weather, it's cold inside the house, let alone outside the city. It's just a shame that they don't provide disaster relief. They're not even allowed to enter the city. It's simply hateful.
"Cui Ming, follow me to Mengyuan County. I want to see who the bastard is in the magistrate of Mengyuan County, and be prepared to force your way in!"
"In addition, send someone with my warrant to Huayin County to mobilize three thousand Tongguan guards. Tell them that if they can't reach Mengyuan County within an hour, I will chop off their heads."
"yes!"
Cui Ming waved his hand, and Jin Yiwei, who had just rested for a while, stood up instantly, with murderous intent in his eyes.
They are all people under Li Ruolian, and they are all people who want to do something. How can they not be angry when they hear something like this happening now.
Tongguan Station is only more than ten miles away from Mengyuan County, and it only took less than two-quarters of an hour for everyone to rush on horseback.
Under the light of the torch, Yuan Keli was furious when he saw the refugees huddled together in the darkness outside the city for warmth.
"I am Cui Ming, the commander-in-chief of Jinyiwei. By your Majesty's order, I am escorting the imperial envoy Yuan Keli and Yuan Gelao to Shaanxi for disaster relief. I pass by Mengyuan County. Please open the city gate quickly!"
Cui Ming's loud shout seemed like a stimulant injected into the ears of the crowded and sleepy refugees outside the city gate.
It was quiet at first, then slowly became lively, and finally began to surround Yuan Keli and others.
When Cui Ming and others saw this, they unsheathed their long knives and stared warily at the refugees who were surrounding them in darkness.
Against the backdrop of the torches, Yuan Keri could clearly see the desire for life in the eyes of these refugees.
"Cui Ming, put away the knife!"
Yuan Keli gave a low drink, then took a torch and took two steps forward: "Dear fellow villagers, I, Yuan Keli, was sent by the imperial court to provide disaster relief in Shaanxi this time. I came late. I'm sorry for you.
It’s not that the imperial court doesn’t care about the life and death of the people, it’s actually that Shaanxi officials deceived each other. Your Majesty immediately prepared for disaster relief after learning about it.
The first batch of food will arrive in the next few days. Please believe in the imperial court and Your Majesty.
Regarding the matter in Tongguan Mansion, I promise that I will give you an explanation tonight. Please wait and see. "
After Yuan Keli finished speaking, there was a response from the top of the city tower: "Please two adults to get their official credentials (letter of appointment and identity certificate) for verification."
After saying that, a bamboo basket was placed under the tower.
After Cui Ming and Yuan Keli put their official certificates on the bamboo basket, a full quarter of an hour passed before the city gate slowly opened a gap, a few people quickly walked out, and then the city gate closed again.
"Pan Minglong, the patrol inspector of Mengyuan County, a humble post, has met Mr. Yuan Ge and asked Mr. Ge to follow me to the city!"
"Inspector Pan, why don't you open the city gate and let the people in?"
Pan Minglong gave a bitter smile and sighed: "Mr. Ge, it's not that we won't let him go, it's the county magistrate who won't let him go. I can't do anything about my humble position."
"The county magistrate won't let you? Well, I now order you to open the city gate and let the people enter the city!"
"Mr. Ge, you can't open it, you can't open it!"
As soon as Yuan Keli finished speaking, the city gate opened again, and a middle-aged man wearing a black veil and blue official uniform came out.
"Lin Jianhua, the magistrate of Mengyuan County, has met Mr. Ge!"
After the visitor saluted, he immediately said: "Mr. Ge, you can't open the city gate. There are more than a dozen rebels in Shaanxi now. The nearest one to us is only a few dozen miles away. If there are rebels among the more than 10,000 refugees, Once you enter the city, the consequences will be disastrous."
After hearing this, Yuan Keli sneered and shouted: "Come here, capture Lin Jianhua, open the city gate, and let the people into the city. Anyone who dares to block it will be killed without mercy!"
Two Jinyi guards immediately stepped forward, grabbed Lin Jianhua's arms, and kicked him to the ground.
Behind Pan Minglong, the defenders of Mengyuan County were about to step forward. Cui Ming took a step forward and said, "If you dare to take action, you will be punished for treason and the nine tribes will be executed."
Lin Jianhua, who was kneeling on the ground, woke up from his shock. While struggling, he shouted: "Mr. Ge, I am unjust."
"Unjustly accused?"
Yuan Keli took two steps forward and stared at Lin Jianhua coldly.
"Do you really think I don't know why you did this?"
