Reborn Regent of Ming Dynasty

"Blind!" Seeing Li Xin's gaze, Zhang Deqi shook his head helplessly and said, "A little yellow dog died at home. The child couldn't think about it, so he just kept crying."

"Hehe, children are like this."

Such trivial matters were not worth mentioning at first, but after Li Xin got started, when he saw the food on the Zhang family's dining table, it was a sign.

Just a few black buns, a pot of boiled wild vegetables in the middle, and boiling water in the bowl, nothing else was seen.After eating like this, he was startled suddenly, held Zhang Deqi's arm, and asked in surprise: "Shu Ping, although your family is not well off, you should have little savings. Why are you living so miserable?"

People can't get enough of this kind of food, so naturally there is no food to feed the dogs. It seems that the dead dogs were starved to death. [

Zhang Deqi looked stern, and after a long pause, he replied: "My savings of ten taels of silver is enough to buy a few bags of miscellaneous grains. Because I am afraid of the siege, I don't dare to eat too much now. Adults and children eat a lot of food every meal. Just eat two steamed buns, and store all the food in cellars for emergencies."

This is a very experienced idea and approach. With Jinan's city defense facilities, as long as there are some soldiers who are determined to stick to it, the attack will definitely not be able to be defeated.

In ancient cities, storming was one method, but siege was more common.

Surrounding you for half a year and a year, when the city is running out of food, I am not afraid that you will not surrender, nor that you will not be able to attack.

Jinan now has a large population. Although there are a lot of grain reserves, who knows how long this battle will last?Donglu has been here for a few months now, and is likely to stay for another half a year or so. If Jinan cannot be broken and besieged, food shortage will be a particularly serious problem by then.It is not uncommon that a whole city starved to death in large-scale battles and sieges.

At this time, whoever is more prepared will have a chance to survive to the end.

"The grain merchants in the city set up prices on the ground, and the price went up every day. They thought they could buy a few shi of refined grain and a dozen shi of coarse grain, but when I went to buy it, it was only enough to buy a few shi of coarse grain. These profiteers are really hateful."

When Li Xin came over, Zhang Deqi's family was obviously having dinner, and they avoided going to the inner hall because there were foreign guests.

Looking at the food on the table, Li Xin felt angry and a little ashamed.

Of course, he knew about the fact that the grain merchants were sitting on the ground and raising prices. Many grain merchants even had the shadow of some high-ranking officials behind them. Yan Qizu, the governor of Shandong, also intervened in it, and he presumably made a lot of money.

It stands to reason that the Qing army is still hundreds of miles away, and the siege has not yet begun. There should be no increase in prices if there are sufficient grain reserves in the city.

But these damn businessmen, what are profiteers, the Jinan businessman in front of him is a clear proof.Taking advantage of the panic, the price of food rose sharply. Once the price of food rose, people became more panicked. As a result, most people started hoarding food, and then the food went up again.

With such a vicious cycle, food prices are naturally like a kite with a broken string, and they will keep rising as soon as they rise.

He also knew a lot about this matter, and even when the grain merchant sent money, he unceremoniously took his share.But I didn't expect my friend's family to be entrapped to such an extent...

He said to Zhang Deqi in a reproachful tone: "Shuping, although you are tall and steep, but Mrs. Sister-in-law and Xiaobao have to eat, and you are also in the government office. If you are a little more like the light, are you afraid that there will be no food? "

"That would not be me."

Regarding such a question, Zhang Deqi did not intend to argue with his friends, he looked at Li Xin, there was no sign of compromise in his eyes, he was just a little curious, and asked: "At this time, why did the elder brother think of me?" It’s coming? The rumors are quite bad, Fu Zun is frowning today, and he doesn’t know what to do... But I found out that Gou Fu Zun sent his concubines and family property to Dezhou by car.”

"If the skin doesn't exist, how can the hair be attached?"

Li Xin said viciously: "He thought that Jinan fell, and he could escape from the sword of the Tartar soldiers? Even if he hid for a while, he could escape the court's severe punishment for the two crimes of falling into the city and falling into the border?"

Now King De, a county king, and many clans are in Jinan City, so the officials did not dare to escape. Of course, at this time, no one is responsible and dares to ask King De to flee for refuge.Although the prince is a pro-vassal, without the permission of the court, it is also a serious crime to leave the fief without permission. So now it is heard that there are cries in the palace of Prince De. Stay in the city to die.

Later, when the accounts were settled after the war, Yan Qizu and Ni Chong, the governors of Shandong, were ordered to be executed by Chongzhen because of the loss of land and the loss of their relatives.

"This generation has always been like this, it's not surprising." Zhang Deqi sneered: "Even if it's the addition of axes and axes tomorrow morning, this generation will have to get enough first before talking about it."

"Let's not talk about them." Li Xin also looked a little nervous, and said to Zhang Deqi: "The front of the Eastern Barbarians is approaching, and today is the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. Looking at it now, it will take three or four days at most, and they will be besieged. Years and years later, Jinan must be under siege, and it would be too late if we wanted to leave. Officials dare not leave, and they are also confused. We don’t have to stay in the city and put ourselves and our family in such a dangerous place... Shuping, I prepared two cars, and I went to Texas to report to the governor on an excuse...so they didn't dare to keep me. I already paid for the fare. My own car is smaller, and yours is smaller. , we men walk first, and then try to hire or buy a few mules and donkeys to travel, Texas is only more than 200 miles away, and it will take three or four days. The risk is not great, what do you think, Shuping?"

Where is it worth hesitating?

Inside the house, the father-in-law's family was already coughing non-stop. The father-in-law was originally qualified to come out to accompany the guests. He is also a famous person, so it is okay to talk to Li Xin face to face, but the old man has been bedridden for several days. He caught a cold, and the situation in the city was dangerous, so he was really worried, so he was sick and couldn't get out of bed for a few days.

In the past two days, I heard that the rebels have been robbing people and killing people. The old man is even more worried, and his condition shows signs of getting worse.

Because of this, Zhang Deqi didn't invite his father-in-law to come out, and as for his wife and brother's family, he didn't mention them, they were not on the table.

At this moment they coughed, knowing that Dezhou is [-] times more stable than Jinan. When they came here from Dezhou, of course they never thought that there would be a day when they would return in a hurry.

Zhang Deqi was very grateful to Li Xin, he cupped his hands and said: "Brother, I really can't thank you for the great kindness of life, but it's really hard to express my gratitude if I don't thank you first at this time."

"We are Nian brothers, so there is no need to say such kind words."

Li Xin stood up and said in a deep voice, "Let's meet up in front of the north gate at five o'clock tomorrow morning. When the city gate opens at dawn, we'll go straight to Dezhou."

"Okay!" Zhang Deqi agreed: "The chaos in the city is like ghost land, I don't want to stay longer for a day!"