First Prince of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 385

It also took into account the loss of transportation along the way and the need for local officials to eat and take cards, but I didn't expect that they were still so dark. Although they haven't arrived at the place yet, I don't know how much food they have in stock, but Zhu Biao estimates that they will at least Also hacked half of the relief food.

Otherwise, the people affected by the disaster would not go out to flee famine in such a group. Fleeing famine in this year is a matter of a narrow escape, and it must be determined that staying in the local area is a near 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 an extra sum of food to share the spoils. Why not do it?

"My lord, you are a little baby, please enjoy a bite of food, can I sleep with you for a while?"

A rather stern pleading voice came over, and Zhu Biao heard the words and looked around, a young soldier of the military guards in the outer mansion was grabbed by a gray-faced woman, and behind the woman was a small child with a mouth She stared blankly at her mother's back with her 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 really only makes people feel numb and noisy. The refugees along the way are just silhouettes, and there is no expression on their gray and black faces. They just walked a few steps away. , The turbid tears ran across the dirty face, leaving two rather clean tear stains.

The soldier of the government army guard clenched his teeth and his face turned red. If he met him in Beijing, he would definitely donate generously. The government army guard is the emperor's guard, and the salary is quite generous. Nature will not be stingy.

But now their food is also rationed, and he can’t even get his own share. The governor has long ordered that his own food must be eaten in his own stomach, otherwise you will be starving yourself, and you will be powerless to protect you in case of accidents. Your Highness has a big business!

The woman's begging continued, as if she was going to use up all her strength. You could tell from the wear and tear on the knees of her underwear that she begged countless people with the scriptures.

Zhu Biao didn't want to listen any more, looked up slightly at the sun hanging high above the sky emitting infinite light and heat, and exhaled a long breath with a trembling sound, feeling a heavy weight on his heart.

If he was really just a young merchant, he would only sigh in pity, lamenting that God is merciless, and then ask people to donate some food to obtain psychological satisfaction, but he is the heir apparent of Ming Dynasty, and these people are all his subjects.

To be honest, Zhu Biao didn’t really pay much attention to this disaster at first. After all, it was just a drought in Shaanxi and Gansu. It happens every year, and the reports are not much worse than before. It doesn’t affect the overall situation at all, and he was even complacent. , because he has such ample relief food.

Zhu Biao glanced at the children who were still gnawing their fingers and said, "At least the women and children should find a way to settle down, and don't let them starve to death!"

Chen Rongyan on the side looked bitter, and Han Zheng frowned in embarrassment. The two of them survived troubled times, and such small scenes have long been commonplace, but I can understand that Zhu Biao is young and still has a kind heart, but this Settling in is easier said than done.

What's more, to be honest, even if you want to rescue, you should save the young and strong first. Only when the famine is over can you save the young and strong, so that people can farm and build, and there will be children soon if there are young and strong.

Han Zheng comforted in a low voice: "My lord is benevolent, but it is easy to save people. More than 4 shi of grain is enough to help these women and children along the way for a long time, but it is unreasonable. Merchants put profit first. You should still You have to take care of the overall situation."

Chen Rongyan also persuaded: "Let's just keep these girls. If there are any poor ones, just secretly send some food so that they can go to the rich villages and towns. There are hundreds of thousands of victims in the disaster area waiting for you to save them. In the midst of fire and water."

Zhu Biao exhaled and said: "Leave [-] shi of grain, set up a camp nearby, and speak in the name of the Chen family, saying that we are going to gather some suitable young girls to sell to Suzhou and Hangzhou. The daily supply does not need to be too much." A good clear soup and porridge is enough, and someone will take over."

Chen Rongyan said with a wry smile: "My lord, it's not that I can't bear my family's reputation. It's really not convincing. My Chen family is now the direct descendant of the Eastern Palace. No matter how big the benefits are, I would never do such a thing."

Zhu Biao was not surprised and then ordered: "These are for the refugees. In this way, anyone who has a little background will not send their children. As for the others, it is the order of His Royal Highness, ordering the Chen family to gather the orphans along the way. Sending it to Xuzhou, the crown prince has not been doing this kind of thing for a year or two, and it must have been spread in the official circles."

Chen Rongyan didn't quite understand, frowned and looked at Han Zheng. Han Zheng grinned, and it was indeed spread all over the place. These nobles talked a lot when drinking in private. It is taboo to recruit a large number of orphans in private, no matter what age they are.

After all, the purpose is obvious, that is to cultivate the confidants of the dead, and everyone is more sure that Quan Xu, who used to follow His Highness the Crown Prince all the time, suddenly disappeared from the officialdom.

Counting the number of orphans gathered since Fengyang's relocation, everyone trembled in their hearts, and even sighed at Zhu Yuanzhang, his fatherly heart was undisguised.

They couldn't help thinking, when the crown prince has a confidant of this size, isn't the Holy One not afraid?

Even though the father and son are compatible now, it is because His Highness the Crown Prince is young, and when he becomes full-fledged in the future, it will be easier than Tang Taizong's change of Xuanwu Gate.

Even though they were all clear, no one dared to say it publicly, even the nerds at Yushitai knew that this kind of thing should not be contaminated, the emperor would not tolerate people who spoke out about it, and so did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Han Zheng thought for a while and said, "It's true. A year of famine is a good time to recruit suitable candidates. Even if the officials from Shaanxi and Gansu heard about it, they didn't dare to send people to investigate. They would be sure that we are His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Ordered to sell grain to gather orphans."

Chen Rongyan shuddered after hearing this, and hurriedly bowed down to do things, Han Zheng also kept silent, and Zhu Biao didn't say anything more. It was a secret that their father and son planned to replace the pro-military Duwei's mansion with Jinyiwei, and the rest of them naturally I have been silently speculating in my heart for a long time.

The woman and her child were also taken into custody in the afternoon. The suffering of the people at the bottom is just a thought for those in power. Life and death, honor and disgrace are up and down in their hearts. What can they do?

After the mother and child were taken down, the surrounding refugees suddenly went crazy, knelt and kowtowed and begged endlessly, especially the young and strong, who crowded in the front, and the old, weak, sick and disabled raised their hands and cried at the end.

It was as if demons and ghosts were hissing and clamoring. Everyone wanted to live. Their stomachs were already starved and shriveled. Anyone who could make them eat would be willing to do anything.

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(End of this chapter)