Your Majesty, you are a kind person!" "Thanks to Your Majesty, our family can get revenge for our great revenge!"

"Your Majesty is really doing justice for heaven, he is benevolent and righteous!"

The common people were avenged and knelt on the ground to kowtow to Zhu Youxiao.

This should have been a very pleasant scene, but Zhu Youxiao couldn't be happy at all. If he, the majestic emperor of the Ming Dynasty, had not come to this town in person to see it, he would not have known what kind of life the people were living and how grateful they were. It's not the imperial court, but the thieves he plays.

Can you blame the people for this?

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said: "Fellows and fellow villagers, there is no need to be polite, just take the food home quickly."

A commoner sighed: "Your Majesty, Huang Maoqing is very powerful. We broke up the Huang family and robbed the food. The imperial army has arrived. We are a mob. How can we go home?"

Another commoner said: "Yes, the Huang family must have sent someone to Macheng to report the news. When the imperial army comes, we will all die."

"No matter what, if I can avenge my son, my death is worth it!"

"After all, we have avenged my parents. Since the court doesn't care about us, we might as well do the opposite!"

"That's it! The court is stupid and the officials are harming the people. We have no way to survive. Let's forget it!" "The court doesn't want us and wants us dead, so we will go against it!"

Seeing the people suddenly rebelling in anger, Zhu Youxiao was confused. Why were they suddenly rebelling?

A young man rushed up and said: "Your Majesty, you are doing justice for heaven. You are extremely benevolent and righteous. We are willing to follow you!"

Another person shouted: "Your Majesty, please raise the flag of justice, we will rebel with you!"

The common people also raised their pitchforks and rakes and shouted: "Yes, Your Majesty, we are willing to follow you, but you are rebelling!"

Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Haogu looked at each other, how could this be the opposite?

Zhang Haogu saw Zhu Youxiao's difficulty, and he immediately shouted: "Fathers and fellow villagers!" "We can't stay in Hubei anymore." "But everyone has to find a way to survive, so we might as well leave Hubei!" "

Someone asked: "Where should we go after leaving Hubei?" Zhang Haogu said: "Go to Henan!"

"Henan is right next to Hubei, and it has been hit by a disaster. Let's go there and settle down!"

Zhu Youxiao also reacted at this time: "My fellow villagers, didn't you just say that you robbed food and went to Henan?"

"Henan has new policies and upright officials. Let's go to Henan with food and live a better life!"

After hearing this, the common people were also moved. Yes, if it is not impossible to survive, if it is not forced, who is willing to put their heads in their belts to rebel?

If you can live a good life in Henan, that would be the best thing. "Your Majesty, we are willing to follow you wherever you go!" "Yes, we will follow you!"

"Go wherever the king says!"

Seeing the support of the people, Zhu Youxiao also waved his hand: "Let's go, take the food, let's go to Henan!"

In order to avoid the officers and soldiers, Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Haogu took the people to rest in the mountains that night.

At night, the people lit a fire and set up pots. The people who brought their families and belongings with them had all the tools. Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Haogu also had a large bubbling pot in front of them.

Watching the flames constantly licking the bottom of the pot, the pickles in the pot are rolling in the hot water, and the pieces of tofu are rising and falling, with an alluring fragrance.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the big pot. He was very hungry after not eating much for a whole day: "Master, what kind of dish is this?"

Zhang Haogu poked at the pickled vegetables and tofu in the pot and said with a smile: "It's not a dish, it's just pickled vegetables and tofu rolled in it. This is delicious to the people."

Zhu Youxiao picked up a piece of tofu and stuffed it into his mouth. He couldn't help but nodded: "This tofu rolled with pickles is indeed delicious."

Eunuch Wei looked at the people around him and couldn't help but ask: "Master, Master Zhang, we really want to take the people to Henan. Henan is still suffering from disasters."

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "Where are we going if we don't go to Henan? We killed Huang Maoqing's family and broke into his house to steal food. I guess the county government in Macheng has already regarded us as a mob. If we don't escape, how can the young master continue to conduct private visits incognito" ah."

Zhu Youxiao also said: "Yes, if you don't come out to understand the people's sentiments, you don't know how difficult the people's livelihood is."

"In Hubei, I discovered these problems just by visiting one prefecture and one county. I really don't know how many places in the south there are people boiling with dissatisfaction."

"Now that the people of E Town have been treated as a mob and have no way of survival, I don't intend to reveal my identity now. Taking the people to Henan will also give them a way of life."

Hearing this, Eunuch Wei's expression changed: "Sir, the Yellow River has burst its banks in Henan. How can you, with your body of ten thousand gold, take the risk?"

Zhu Youxiao said: "It was precisely because I knew that the Yellow River burst its banks that I went to Henan to take a look."

"Previously, Mr. Huang Ge kept praising Chu Xingyu in front of me. Did Mr. Huang Ge expect that Chu Xingyu would be such a bold person who deceives his superiors and deceives his subordinates?"

"Master has always praised Zhou Jinyong in front of me. This time I will go to Henan to see how Zhou Jinyong is doing."

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "I couldn't agree more with what you said."

"Even if you don't mention it, I will tell you that the Yellow River in Henan has burst its banks, and 27 counties in the four prefectures have been affected by the disaster. In the past two years, the court has allocated so much money and food to Henan. Henan has built river embankments and dug reservoirs and ditches, but now there are still If a flood occurs and the court doesn't investigate, I will investigate to the end."

"As Mr. Huang Ge said, whether there is any problem in Henan always needs to be investigated."

Zhu Youxiao said: "This is the reason. Only when you go to Henan and see for yourself will you know what the situation is."

Early the next morning, Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Haogu led the people to move forward. After several days, they finally led the people through the mountains and into the border of Henan.

As soon as he entered Runing Mansion, Zhu Youxiao felt a completely different feeling from Hubei. It was anger, a feeling of vitality bursting out.

Although the people of Henan suffered from the disaster, they were still in good spirits, and their faces were rosy and their clothes were clean and tidy.

After discussing with Zhang Haogu, Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Haogu, who brought a large number of people with them, decided to say that they were fleeing and first take a look at the situation in the farms in Henan.

And the farms along the road saw so many people dragging their families with their families. They heard that they were fleeing from Hubei. Each farm took the initiative to send water and food, and allowed the people to enter the farm to rest. The people of E Town also really saw the imperial court. What was life like on the northern farms under the New Deal?

At this time, Zhu Youxiao completely confirmed that Hubei and Henan are different.

In the farms in Henan, except for some real village sages who serve as farm owners, the rest are students from Datong Academy. They work with the people, building river embankments and digging ditches.

As soon as the four prefectures in Henan suffered a disaster, the prefectures in Henan began to send civilians and soldiers to the four prefectures to provide disaster relief.

Zhu Youxiao inquired about the situation and learned that people from all over the country were rushing to the disaster-stricken areas for disaster relief. Zhu Youxiao decided to go to the places where the disaster was most serious.

"My fellow villagers, if we want to settle down and file a petition, we have to go to the high officials in Henan. I heard that the high officials in Henan are providing disaster relief, so we will go to the disaster area and ask the officials in Henan to make the decision for us!" Zhu Youxiao said.

When the people heard this, they also supported them one after another. After seeing the happy life of the people in the farms in Henan, and seeing the good life that the people in Henan lived with plenty of food and clothing, the people of E Town became even more bitter about the collusion between the officials and gentry in Hubei. They already understood , it’s not that the court has no benevolent governance, it’s that these corrupt officials have deceived the court, and they are going to file a complaint!

Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Haogu took the people of Ezhen all the way from Runing Mansion to Kaifeng Mansion. Zhu Youxiao finally saw the disaster.

The floods swept everywhere, destroying everything along the way. The floods roared past, leaving only chaos everywhere.

However, the people of Henan did not lose their fighting spirit. On the contrary, under the leadership of officials at all levels and their respective farm owners, the people of Henan began to work together to rebuild their homes.

Cleaning up the silt and pushing the ruins for reconstruction, then sorting the farmland, transporting food, and building river embankments, everyone was in an orderly manner and busy.

Zhu Youxiao looked at this scene and couldn't help but said: "These are the good officials of the Ming Dynasty. They are really taking the lead in doing work. They are different from those corrupt officials in Hubei who are pretending. These officials can feel it in them." That kind of momentum shows that they are all good officials of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Haogu also breathed a sigh of relief: "Judging from this scene, the imperial court is very popular in Henan. Officials can lead people everywhere to fight disasters and provide disaster relief. Zhou Jinyong has done a good job."

Zhu Youxiao said: "Let's go and take a closer look. Go to Xingyang." Xingyang is one of the most severely affected places in Henan!

Now Zhu Youxiao is going to Xingyang. No matter how worried Eunuch Wei is, it is worth following him.

In this way, everyone walked along the official road to Xingyang. Along the way, they could see groups of brave people from the countryside carrying dry food and pushing carts to Xingyang.

Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao grabbed a young man and asked, "Brother, what are you going to do?"

The young and strong young man said: "Go to Xingyang for disaster relief! There is such a huge flood in Xingyang, how can you ignore it?"

Zhu Youxiao asked: "Did the Yamen organize you to go?" Qing Zhuang said: "We were going to come."

As he said that, Qing Zhuang looked at the team behind Zhu Youxiao. When he saw that there were not only young people, but also women, the elderly and the weak, he couldn't help but ask: "Why, the Yamen has brought all of your village to provide disaster relief?"

Zhu Youxiao said: "No, we came to Henan from Hubei."

Qing Zhuang looked at Zhu Youxiao suspiciously, looking at the fair skin and tender flesh, why didn't he look like someone who was on the run?

"Are you here fleeing? Why did you come to Xingyang?" Qing Zhuang was very vigilant.

Zhang Haogu explained: "Although we are fleeing, we are not without strength. Henan has been hit by a disaster. Of course we have to do our part if we can. Otherwise, if you give us food, we will I don’t feel at ease either."

Qing Zhuang laughed after hearing this: "He is a good man!"

"Although it seems that there is a disaster now, in Henan, we have really lived a good life in a down-to-earth manner over the past few years. This is all thanks to the imperial court and the emperor. Now that Henan has suffered a disaster, I heard that the imperial court has transferred people from various provinces. , and even mobilized a large army to provide disaster relief. But we also want to face the disaster. We Henan suffered a disaster, but the Henan people can also provide disaster relief themselves."

Zhang Haogu asked again: "I heard that the Governor is still in Xingyang?"

Qing Zhuang nodded and couldn't help but said: "The Governor is really a good official!"

"Since the Governor came to Henan, he has visited various prefectures and counties. He has even been to our village. He even came to my house to eat noodles!"

"Really? This dignified governor has gone to your village?" Zhang Haogu asked.

Qing Zhuang said proudly: "No, don't underestimate me. I am also a well-known expert from all over the country. I can do farming and carpentry easily."

"The Governor heard about my ability and came to our village to investigate. He also praised me for my ability and made me the owner of the farm."

As he spoke, Qing Zhuang sighed: "The Governor is a good official, a truly good official. He is dedicated to our Henan province."

"In the past two years, the Governor has been visiting and investigating, building reservoirs, strengthening river embankments, building roads, and bringing in businessmen from other places. We have all seen it."

"It can be said that if the Governor hadn't been so busy these past few years, how could we have such a good life?"

"But this thief God really doesn't give you face. This year's heavy rain has made the governor's work in vain these years."

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but ask: "Oh? What's going on?"

Qing Zhuang said: "We have heard that the imperial court may want to send someone to investigate the governor. We feel that the governor has embezzled the money specially provided by the imperial court for building river embankments."

"What the hell is this!"

"Ever since the Governor learned that the river was swollen, he lived and ate on the embankment. Even if the embankment burst, he would stay by the embankment and never leave. He also personally led people to provide disaster relief and fill the gap when the embankment burst."

"Where can I find such an official?"

"The imperial court doesn't think about how to send more people to support. It only thinks about investigating such a good official. What does the imperial court think?"

Zhu Youxiao laughed after hearing this and said: "Maybe the court also has its own considerations." Qing Zhuang shook his head: "I don't understand."

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "Brother, you are going to Xingyang to provide disaster relief, and we are going too, why not go together?"

Qing Zhuang nodded: "In the middle, one more person will give you more strength." Zhu Youxiao smiled and said: "That's right, let's go to Xingyang together."

The young man said: "This disaster relief depends on us young men, how strong we are, so that we can move rocks and sandbags to fill the gap when the embankment breaks."

"The old man and the children will be put in the back, and the women will mend the clothes. We cannot let the old man, women and children go to this disaster relief work."

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said: "Don't worry, little brother, we understand that we will definitely be responsible for this disaster relief."

Following Qingzhuang all the way to Xingyang, we saw the most serious disaster area. The land was in ruins and devastated. Floods still spread from time to time. On the river embankment, countless civilians, villagers, and soldiers of the New Army were carrying a

Bags of sandbags and rocks were carried to fill the breached embankment.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the situation on the river embankment from a distance and couldn't help but said: "The flood in Xingyang is so serious..."

Along the way, Zhu Youxiao was shocked by the disaster in Xingyang. The flooded villages and towns, the farmland and woodland where silt accumulated, and even the county town had a lot of water, and many houses were blown away by heavy rain and strong winds.

Roofs were broken, large tracts of farmland were submerged, city walls were destroyed, and the turbid Yellow River water spread to both sides, turning this place into Qianli Zeguo...

Now looking at the river embankment, countless people and soldiers are shouting slogans and carrying rolling stones to fill the breach in the embankment. In the violent storm, the Ming Dynasty's mountain, river, sun and moon flags are planted on the river embankment. , hunting in the howling wind, covered with mud but always standing firm.

Wearing a bamboo hat, Zhu Youxiao looked at the soldiers and civilians who were marching forward to fill the gaps in the storm, and his eyes were red when he heard the chants in the wind and rain: "Henan, it's not easy."

Huang Zongxi also lamented: "Governor Zhou did his best. This violent storm is really a natural disaster, not a man-made disaster."

Eunuch Wei looked at the river embankment in fear, and then at the gloomy dark clouds in the sky that seemed to be pressing down on people's heads. The roaring wind and rain hit people's cheeks with pain. He looked at Zhu Youxiao worriedly: "Master , let’s go back."

"If something goes wrong, I can't afford it!"

Zhu Youxiao ignored Eunuch Wei. He frowned and looked at the raging river in front of him. He looked at the common people and villagers who kept filling the gap in the river. Zhu Youxiao's expression was extremely solemn. He would never understand this unless he came to the disaster area. What exactly are the tragic scenes described in those words on the memorial?

Just as he was thinking about it, a green-robed official wearing a bamboo hat and a raincoat hurriedly ran over: "Which prefecture and county are you from? Why are there still women and children?"

Zhang Haogu said: "We are refugees from Hubei. We heard that Henan was hit by a disaster, so we came here."

"Fleeing from Hubei? No wonder there are old people and children."

As the officer spoke, he looked around, pointed to an open space and said, "This land is designated for you to rest."

"I will arrange for the elderly and children to go to the rear. Can you work now?"

Just when Eunuch Wei was about to stop him, Zhu Youxiao said: "If you can work, come to Xingyang, we are here to work."

When the people of Ezhen behind Zhu Youxiao saw this tragic scene, they all shouted: "Yes, we are here to work!"

"We Hubei people are also powerful and can provide disaster relief!" The junior official nodded repeatedly: "Okay, they are all good!" "Young and old men, come with me!"

Zhu Youxiao immediately followed him. Eunuch Wei saw that Zhu Youxiao was about to carry the sandbags and jumped up anxiously: "Master Zhang, you, why don't you persuade me? How can this happen?"

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "Young master, if you want to do it, let him do it, otherwise he will feel uncomfortable." "Let's do it together." Huang Zongxi rolled up his sleeves: "Let's do it together, student. I am also an upright man!"

Eunuch Wei sighed: "Oh, let's go!"

A group of people followed the official to the embankment. The surrounding people carried sandbags, stones, and logs to the river to fill the gap. But as soon as they were filled in, the raging and violent Yellow River water washed away the sandbags and logs. Walk.
Chapter completed!