As soon as Zhang Mao finished speaking, Emperor Hongzhi suddenly became elated and gave Zhang Mao a thumbs up in his heart. This old fox was so smart that he figured out what he meant at once, and he was smart enough to drag down all the civil and military officials in the court.
Didn’t everyone keep saying that the disaster was extremely urgent? Didn’t everyone say that it was difficult for the victims to sleep and eat well? Now it’s better. Since everyone thinks that the victims are having a hard time, then as Zhang Mao said, those with money should pay.
Where there is food, provide food. Don't just shout slogans.
As for the civil and military ministers in the dynasty, they all couldn't help but shrink their heads, especially Zhou Jing, Wu Kuan, Chen Gong and others who had just screamed the loudest. They even bent down slightly to avoid
Emperor Hongzhi saw him and asked him to express his position first.
At the same time, I couldn't help but curse in my heart. Your British father, Zhang Mao, has a great family, and he is the iron rice bowl handed down from his ancestors. He is rich and wealthy. It is no problem to donate whatever you want. But we only have so little wealth, so naturally we are not willing to donate it to those people.
of disaster victims.
"Okay, the Duke of England deserves to be the Duke of England and the pillar of the country. He never forgets to share the worries of the king and alleviate the difficulties of the country."
Emperor Hongzhi praised Zhang Mao with a smile on his face.
"My lord...I am so ashamed!"
British Duke Zhang Mao was sweating all over his back at this time. He knew that he had offended many people today, but he had no choice but to take the blame.
At the same time, I also thought quickly in my heart. Since I have offended these people and the blame has been laid, I must carry it more gracefully and hug Emperor Hongzhi's thigh tightly.
After thinking for a while, he said: "I just heard that hungry people exchanged their sons for food. I feel deeply guilty. As an important minister of the country, I can't share your worries and work for the welfare of the people. I really betray the kindness of the emperor and have no face to see the world.
Common people."
"So I am willing to donate 20,000 taels of silver and 500 dans of grain to help the victims, and do my little bit to rescue the victims."
As Zhang Mao said this, his heart was bleeding. This food was nothing, that is, it was valuable now, and it would be nothing once the famine was over. But the two thousand taels of silver were real gold and silver.
Although he is the Duke of the country, his family naturally has more than a thousand acres of fertile land and a wealth of wealth, but money is still very valuable in this era, and he actually does not have much money in his hands.
If he hadn't followed Xishan Coal Industry last year and started Sangong Coal Industry together with Cheng Guo Gong Zhu Fu and Ding Guo Gong Xu Yongjiu, and made a lot of money by relying on honeycombs, he would really be reluctant to part with 20,000 silver.
come out.
Hearing Zhang Mao's words, the eyes of the civil and military ministers present suddenly went dark. This Zhang Mao is going to become a public enemy of the DPRK and China. Just donate this. Everyone's idea is enough. The key point must be focused.
Emperor Hongzhi.
It's better for you. The first thing you ask is twenty thousand taels of silver and five hundred tons of grain. How can you expect the rest of us to follow?
You have already donated 20,000 taels of silver and 500 tons of grain. No matter how small the number of people following us are, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it and we will just get by with it.
"Well, as expected of the British public, I would like to thank you first on behalf of the victims."
Emperor Hongzhi was so happy that he praised Zhang Mao again happily.
"I...I just can't bear the victims of the disaster to exchange their children for food, so I'm just trying my best."
Zhang Mao wiped the sweat from his forehead. The pot was so heavy that the person under it could not breathe. There would be no good life after this.
"My dear friends, you are right. Now the disaster has become extremely urgent. It has reached the point where there is no need to delay. There has even been a human tragedy of exchanging children and eating them. I am very worried."
"Every one of you, my beloved ministers, was very compassionate and anxious just now. I think they are all willing to do their part for disaster relief."
Emperor Hongzhi nodded, then turned to look at the ministers and spoke slowly.
His words also caused all the ministers to fall silent. The people who had just shouted were all shrinking their heads, lowering their heads, and bending their waists, trying their best to prevent Emperor Hongzhi from seeing them, for fear of being named out.
"The British Lord is right, this natural disaster is not terrible. As long as we, the monarchs and ministers, work together, those with money will provide money, those with food will provide food, and we will work together to help the victims, I believe that no matter how terrible the disaster is, we can survive it."
Emperor Hongzhi looked at the ministers and smiled, expecting their answers.
At this time, the ministers in the court also imitated the military commanders and nobles, and looked at their noses and hearts. They seemed to have no intention of hearing what Emperor Hongzhi said, and none of them stood up to speak.
"how?"
"You don't even speak anymore?"
Emperor Hongzhi showed a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth, then looked at Zhou Jing and said: "Zhou Aiqing, you are the Minister of Household Affairs. As far as I know, your hometown owns thousands of acres of fertile land in Yangqu, Shanxi. Shanxi was also affected by the disaster this time. I think you should
You can’t bear to watch the folks in your hometown exchange their children for food, right?”
Seeing that Emperor Hongzhi didn't say anything, he was the first to point out Zhou Jing. This Zhou Papi had always known to keep an eye on his own money in the past. If anything happened, he would use the money and grain from his own money to support the national treasury. This time,
It’s time to let some blood come out during this period and taste the feeling of bleeding in your heart.
After hearing Emperor Hongzhi's words, Zhou Jing's eyes turned black and he couldn't help but faint. He had been skinned all day long, and he didn't expect that one day he would be skinned by a pig.
"I...I am willing to donate 10,000 taels of silver and write a letter back to Ming's home in Yangqu, Shanxi to use all the food to help the victims."
There was no way, no matter how anxious I was before, I had to cut as much flesh as I wanted now. Even though my heart was bleeding, I still had to cut my flesh.
After saying this, Zhou Jing felt as uncomfortable as if his parents had died. His face was very ugly, his body ached, and the feeling of cutting flesh was really unpleasant.
"Hmm~"
Emperor Hongzhi was very satisfied. He let out a long hum, having bypassed Zhou Jing, and then glanced at the ministers. The ministers immediately did not even dare to raise their heads, for fear that they would hit him next.
"Wu Kuan, your family seems to be from Shandong. I heard that there are tens of thousands of acres of fertile land in this family. Are you also unable to bear the famine in your hometown? You must be very anxious, right?"
Emperor Hongzhi's eyes were fixed on Wu Kuan. This man who kept saying that he should be based on trust and could not requisition food but could only buy food first, Emperor Hongzhi really wanted to see how much meat he could cut off.
"I...I am really anxious. I am willing to donate 10,000 taels of silver. In addition, I will build a calligraphy house and order 300 dan of grain from the house to help the victims."
Wu Kuan's whole body was trembling slightly when he was called. It was like a cutting pain, and his heart was bleeding.
