Red Mansion Reader

Chapter 109

Such an afternoon is probably only normal in a year in Yangzhou city.

In the last few days of October, the sun is not as hot as September, and the air is visibly cooler.

Although we haven't waited for the autumn rain, everyone has already counted the days when the winter snow will fall, and there will always be new hope in the days.

On the golden lake, there are a few boats playing string music, and there are only a few young masters who will come at this time.painting
There are not many boats, and they are hidden among the willows on both sides of the river. Most tourists can vaguely see the figures on board after hearing the sound.

In the streets and alleys, everyone is living an ordinary day.

The peddler who pushes the cart should be careful. From time to time, children will rush to his side and the front of the cart looking at the new and good things.

The adults who took them out couldn't stand the excitement of the children.

With a good temper, he took the child and told him a few words.If the child is in a bad mood and cries, he will be beaten up.

In the days of singing and dancing, it is always difficult for people to feel changes in the outside world under such a leisurely pace of life.

Until an unremarkable boat approached the Guazhou Ferry slowly and silently.

A small red flag with a letter of transmission is stuck on the bow, which is a government official telling the post station along the road that the messenger in the boat has very important news, and if they see it, they will provide convenience.

The Yangzhou guards stationed at the ferry had already cheered up when they saw the color of the flag.While instructing his colleagues to get ready, he quickly went up to pick him up.

Just as the board for welcoming guests was lowered, before the boatman had time to tie the ropes, more than a dozen people rushed out of the boat.

There were not many of them, but as soon as they landed, the cries of children and the shouts of relatives had already become a commotion.

These voices are so weird and out of place.

It's like a stone hitting the sparkling lake, and like a sharp sword flying Yangzhou's singing and dancing.

Yangzhou people in the shops along the street first came out out of curiosity.

When they saw the yellow-faced and emaciated refugees, they noticed that someone was standing on the shore, struggling to help their relatives who had accidentally fallen into the water.

The expressions on the faces of these Yangzhou people froze immediately.

At this moment, most people don't feel panic at this time, they just feel shocked and something is wrong.

Until they heard a voice, "We haven't eaten for two days, please help us." "Give my child a bite, please."

Afterwards, a cool feeling like an electric shock ran along the backs of the spectators to the top of their heads, their beards and hair stood on end, and their expressions were startled and terrified.

The scene was too chaotic, and the officials at the ferry had limited capabilities, so they had to use their wits to ask people to stop the victims so that these people would not run around.

Then he raised his voice and shouted to the colleagues in the outermost circle: "Go and invite the prefect, hurry up, hurry up!"

The messenger among the victims raised their hands with difficulty when they heard the cry, and shouted, "I'm here, I'm here. I'm from Jining Prefecture, and the magistrate sent me to deliver the letter."

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Fu Ya Nei

As soon as Wei Yinghong received the news, he ordered people to control the messengers and refugees.

He made a quick decision. While ordering Huang Weizhong to go to the pier to take care of the refugees, he asked the messenger to be taken to the government office.

Wei Yinghong never thought that the disaster would come so quickly, and he imagined countless possibilities.

Shandong is a major grain-producing province and can serve as a barrier to the south of the Yangtze River.There should be a lot of grain in the two lakes, and Yangzhou and Suzhou have also transported grain to the capital. Why did the current situation become like this.

The messenger who was brought before him cried out about the difficult situation in Jining Mansion.

Reasonably speaking, this kind of official ship for conveying letters should not take refugees.It wasn't that the messenger was soft-hearted, but when he boarded the ship, the refugees who wanted to ask for a way to survive had already surrounded the pier with water.

At that time, there were not many choices left for the courier, either to take some people on the road together, or to be washed overboard by a large number of victims.

When the messenger speaks of what happened on the way.

Wei Yinghong's eyes widened, his face darkened, "You said, there are still people on the road... who fell into the water?"

The messenger cried and nodded, there are too many refugees who want to take a boat.

You squeeze me, I squeeze you, and under mutual defense, someone will accidentally fall off the boat.

Wei Yinghong, who was wearing an official robe, stood still, and the messenger continued to tell the situation of the various prefectures in Shandong.

From time to time, officials big and small from the mansion came, and they stood around the courtroom in tacit understanding, packing their clothes, and at the same time quietly communicating about the current situation.

When the messenger finished speaking, Wei Yinghong motioned for someone to take him down to rest in peace.

He didn't communicate with his subordinates immediately, he was still waiting.When Huang Weizhong, the magistrate, came back, he told himself the news from the victims.

The messenger talked for a long time, all about how the disaster victims were all over the territory of Shandong, and the disaster was like fire.But what is going on in the capital right now, the messenger himself can't tell.

Wei Yinghong read the letter written by the prefect of Jining to himself. Liao Liao's few lines were all about the situation in Shandong, and he rarely mentioned it to the capital.

Soon, Huang Weizhong rushed back to the government office.He first reported the resettlement of the refugees to Wei Yinghong, and only after the magistrate nodded, he shared the information gathered from the refugees.

"What?! One egg, one penny? Isn't this driving people to a dead end?"

"Dove eggs for one tael of silver, are these really something common people can eat?"

"Where is the porridge? We sent so much food, where did it go?"

The officials who asked the question also turned subtle when they heard that many of the disaster relief food shipped from various places had been taken up by princes and dignitaries.He didn't know whether he should reprimand at this time, or pretend he didn't hear it.

Wei Yinghong didn't have time to pay attention to the small thoughts of his subordinates, so he signaled Huang Weizhong to continue talking with a dark face.

When I heard that there were still many refugees fleeing southward in Shandong.He finally couldn't restrain himself, and slammed his palm on the courtroom, making a deafening noise.

The bureaucrats around, seeing the magistrate getting angry, stopped and whispered.

"Officials in the mansion will not be allowed to sell holidays from today. Order all the guards and prepare to block Diaoyu Lane, Chunli Garden, Huafang and other places. Quickly call county magistrates from all over the mansion to see me." Wei Yinghong gave an order, and naturally there were officials from six departments Get started.

"Huang Weizhong."

"My lord, my subordinates are here."

"You are in charge of the granary, everything from now on..." Wei Yinghong hurriedly explained a few words, and after seeing Huang Weizhong understood the meaning, he added, "Lin Ruhai."

"My lord." Lin Ruhai immediately stood up and walked into the courtroom.

"The salt merchants and food in the city will be handed over to you." Wei Yinghong nodded at him, and added: "I will give you another 50 people. If they make any changes, regardless of their crimes, they will be arrested first and put in prison for disposal after the disaster."

"Yes."

"Zhu Guobao, you immediately take my letter and invite Lord Xin into the city."

"Yes."

After the orders were conveyed, someone stood up again and asked, "My lord, is this gate closed or opened?"

Wei Yinghong thought carefully and replied: "From tomorrow, we will open for two hours in the afternoon every day. Those who leave the city or enter the city, if there is no way to quote documents, all will be detained."

Seeing that the explanation was almost the same, Wei Yinghong stood up. He had been in Yangzhou for several years, and the group of subordinates and colleagues in the hall had been carefully selected by himself.

Knowing his prestige among his subordinates, Wei Yinghong changed his tone to a gentle warning.

"Everyone, the disaster is spreading, the current situation is difficult, and people's livelihood is declining. I also hope that everyone will work together to tide over the difficulties.

As long as this test is passed, the government will declare to the imperial court the contributions of all of you. "

Everyone saluted and said yes.

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No matter how swift the government's handling is, it can't stop the spread of rumors.

The previously suppressed rumors are now spreading in the market with a more rapid and exaggerated momentum.

Those who have spread some gossip before are really very proud at the moment.

"I told you a long time ago, I told you that the disaster was coming. I saw that there were so many northerners in the city, so I knew something was wrong."

Under the panic, no one has time to pay attention to this kind of boasting.

Anyone with a little money on hand crowded to the grain shops in the city, and everyone hoped to save more grain during this time.

It's a pity that their looting was quickly stopped by the officials who rushed over.

The crowd who left disgruntled did not dare to act presumptuously at the officers and soldiers with knives and armor at the door.

Yueyi Academy responded immediately. After a short discussion between Jia Yucun and Pei Huaizhen, they gathered the students in the lecture hall.

Jia Yucun told those children who are far away from home that if they want to go home, they can pack their luggage today, and the academy will suspend classes from now on.

Those who don't want to leave can temporarily live in the academy, and the academy will take care of their food and accommodation.

After leaving the lecture hall, Jiang Yuanbai looked the most worried, pacing frequently in the dormitory.For a while, I was thinking about going home, and for a while, I was worried about what to do when I got home.

Seeing that he hadn't made up his mind for a long time, Chen Heng persuaded him directly: "Brother Jiang, if the drought ends next year, staying at home is also an expedient solution. If it doesn't end next year, it will be too late for you to seek refuge in the city. "

Jiang Yuanbai's expression was shocked, and he asked anxiously: "Then where will my family live?"

"Come to my house. Brother Heng's family is small. You have a younger sister, so it's inconvenient to live there." Qian Dayou spoke ahead of the crowd, "Didn't you come to live in my house a few days ago, and all your things are still there. I I'll go back at night and let my parents clean up a room."

"Okay." Jiang Yuanbai nodded gratefully, and suddenly remembered something, he asked Chen Heng: "Brother Heng, do you want to use the money I saved to buy some rice now?"

"No need." Chen Heng shook his head. He knew that Uncle Lin and the magistrate's plans to limit the purchase of grain and curb the price of grain were things that must be done immediately.If I go to buy it now, I won’t be able to buy it even if I specify it.

"You save this money for emergencies. If you see any food that is easy to store and carry on the way back to the county, you can buy some and bring it back. You don't need to buy too much. As long as you arrive in Yangzhou City, you will always stutter."

"Okay." Jiang Yuanbai didn't delay, and immediately started packing his bags.

Chen Heng and Xue Biao couldn't delay either, and they got up and ran to the gymnasium together.

At this time, everyone in the academy was busy in an orderly manner, and no one could be seen near the Tiren Hall.

The two didn't wait long when they saw Xue Baoqin and Daiyu poking their heads out around the corner.

"Brother, I knew you would come looking for me." Lin Daiyu's frowning eyebrows were slightly stretched when she ran in front of Chen Heng.

Chen Heng nodded, and Xue Biao took away his younger sister one by one, and each started talking.

With his uncle in the Lin family, Chen Heng didn't have to worry. What he wanted to tell Sister Lin was Wang Xianming.

The old man and the old lady are important family members of the two. Lin Daiyu comforted Chen Heng, "I just received a letter from my aunt three days ago, and my aunt said in the letter that she and my uncle are ready to leave."

"That's good." Chen Heng counted the days, at most three or four days, and the Master's family can arrive.

"Don't go out and run around these few days." Chen Heng told Daiyu, "Stay well at home with brother Jue."

"I know, brother. You too. Your home is at the gate of the city, so you should be more careful." Lin Daiyu lowered her head. She wanted to tell Chen Heng today that she would not be able to attend classes at the academy after the new year. to this kind of thing.

"Then brother, if something happens to you, how will you tell me?"

Wouldn't it be fine if I just come to the door, it's not that I don't know the way.But when Chen Heng turned his head, he saw the slight worry on the other party's face, and the eyes staring at the paper crane under the peach tree.Only now did Chen Heng realize that Daiyu was still affected by the tense atmosphere.

This is the bad thing about smart people. Whenever something happens, it is easy to think clearly about the worst situation.

"It's really going to be troublesome." Chen Heng spread his hands on purpose, pretending to admit his fate helplessly, and sighed, "I'll just pack up and go to your house for refuge."

"Brother is really willing to come." Lin Daiyu couldn't help lowering her head and smiling, and said softly, "Brother, you must pay attention to safety."

"Okay." Chen Heng nodded heavily.

　I have been thinking about whether I can write better.So I wasted some time, and I have a lot of work to do today.

　　After I finish updating the two chapters, I will see if I can write a better version.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)