"Eunuch Wu, these people are fleeing from famine."
After a while, Wang Zhenjun came to report.
"Escape?" Wu Zhongxian looked confused.
"Yes, according to what those few people said, it has not rained in the northern wilderness for several months. The crops have all withered and many people have starved to death. They have no choice but to leave their hometowns to find a way to survive."
Wang Zhenjun said, feeling a little unbearable.
"The Great Northern Wilderness?"
Wu Zhongxian frowned.
The emperor didn’t know about this!
The emperor received news that there was a small famine in the north, and he had allocated a batch of disaster relief money some time ago.
It was the day Wu Zhongxian was ordered to read the book by the Minister of Punishment and sent to the prison.
The imperial edict announced by Emperor Zhou Ren in the morning.
The wealthy Emperor Zhou Ren allocated one million taels of disaster relief money in one go.
Even though money has been allocated, why are people still running away from famine?
Wu Zhongxian called a man with a sallow complexion to come over and ask.
"Your Majesty has allocated disaster relief money and relief grain, why do you still go out begging?"
The man seemed a little frightened, and tremblingly knelt on the ground, and quickly explained: "Sir, you don't know, the disaster relief money has been embezzled by layers of officials, and in our hands, our family can only receive more than a dozen cents.
Nowadays, a steamed bun costs 100 Wen, we can’t afford it!!”
"As for the relief food, the bandits robbed a lot of it, and the remaining food was sold by the government at high prices. We sold our fields and land, and the food we could buy was only enough for the family to eat for a few days."
"Corruption? How did you know you were corrupted?"
Wu Zhongxian looked at the man with sharp eyes.
How could a peasant know about corruption as an official? And how could he say that he was being corrupted layer by layer?
It was even said that the disaster relief food was sold by the government at a high price!
The relief food was transferred from other regions and distributed free of charge. How could anyone dare to sell it!?
The man was so frightened that he quickly kowtowed, trembling and begging for mercy.
"Sir, have mercy on me! My lord, have mercy on me! I also listened to the people in the village. Everyone in our village knows about this. I also listened to the rumors. Please forgive me!"
Wu Zhongxian frowned.
It seems that the problems within the Zhou Dynasty are indeed not small.
Wu Zhongxian thought about corrupt officials.
But I didn't expect corrupt officials to be so arrogant.
He even dared to embezzle disaster relief money and food.
The most terrifying thing is that these corrupt officials even deceived the emperor!
The great wilderness in the north became a small wilderness when it spread to the court in the capital.
The news that Emperor Ren of Zhou received was that the small famine in the north did not affect the people's survival, but this year's harvest was not very good.
It seems that there are extraordinary forces behind these corrupt officials who can suppress such a big thing.
And the forces behind it are probably not just for embezzling money.
Instead, they are creating big trouble for Emperor Zhou Ren.
"Get them some food." Wu Zhongxian ordered Wang Zhenjun and sat back in the carriage.
Wang Zhenjun accepted the order and was very enthusiastic to help the people.
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!!"
The man kowtowed to the carriage excitedly.
People from afar also gathered over.
They had avoided the carriage before because they were afraid of the officers and soldiers.
Because all the bad guys here are officers and soldiers.
They also didn't expect to meet a "good" official.
At this time, if you give them something to eat and can keep them alive, that is a good official.
In the carriage.
Only now did Wu Zhongxian truly understand why Emperor Zhou Ren was unavailable.
Only two hundred miles away from the capital, there were so many people fleeing famine, but he was completely unaware of it.
It’s not that I don’t want to know, it’s that it was deliberately concealed!
Even if Emperor Ren of Zhou wanted to do something for the people, he couldn't even see the real situation of the people because of the layers of officials protecting them. What should he do?
There are dragon guards in the capital, so officials will be more restrained.
But the number of dragon guards is limited after all.
It is impossible to monitor the world.
Fighting for power, you can watch people starve to death.
"What a bunch of bastards!"
Wu Zhongxian was very angry.
Perhaps it's because in his previous life, he was also one of the people fleeing the wilderness.
So it will be more immersive.
"Such a thing happened twenty-five years ago."
At this time, Feng Zhu, who had closed his eyes and meditated for a long time, spoke softly.
Wu Zhongxian looked at Feng Zhu.
"If it were Emperor Wu of Zhou, although there would be such things, there wouldn't be so many."
Fengzhu added another sentence.
It can be regarded as recognition of Emperor Wu of Zhou.
This is indeed the case.
When Emperor Wu of Zhou was still alive, although there was still corruption in the court, it was very little.
And within a controllable range, the people will not be left without food or a place to live.
After Emperor Zhou Ren came to power, in just three years, all the people were displaced!
If Wu Zhongxian didn't know the truth, he would definitely scold the emperor for being stupid and ignorant at this moment.
"This is the purpose of those people."
Discredit the emperor.
An emperor who loses the support of the people will be pushed down by the people sooner or later.
It's just the beginning now.
The grievances of the people are building up.
When all the pent-up resentment breaks out, there will inevitably be people's rebellion, rebel uprising, etc.
To an emperor or a dynasty, people's rebellion is tantamount to a blow to the head.
"The people who suffer from power struggles are the common people." Feng Zhu said indifferently.
"This is an abnormal power struggle."
Wu Zhongxian looked out the window and saw the exiled people queuing up to receive food.
They still have the most basic order, which proves that they have not completely lost their humanity.
It also proves that Emperor Zhou Ren still has a chance.
However, when we got to the last few people in line, there was no more food.
"Send these foods over as well."
Wu Zhongxian pointed to the chicken, duck and fish on the table and gave instructions to the palace maid.
The people knelt on the ground and expressed their gratitude.
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"
"Sir, you are such a good official! What a good person!!"
"..."
Good guy?
Wu Zhongxian didn't know if he was.
After all, just a few days ago, he ordered the killing of entire families, young and old, in several families.
"Stand up and eat, there's no need to kneel down."
Wu Zhongxian looked at the little girl kneeling in front of him eating.
He looks about eight or nine years old, with a sallow complexion and skinny muscles. You can see the bones in his skinny body.
"Thank...Thank you, sir!" The little girl imitated the gratitude of other people. After kowtowing, she dared to stand up timidly and ate a chicken leg.
Wu Zhongxian raised his head and looked around, and found that everyone else had families and company, there were men bringing food to their wives, and women feeding their children, but this little girl was alone.
Wu Zhongxian looked at the little girl who was devouring food as if she hadn't eaten in a few days, and asked: "What's your name?"
"I...my name is Xiao Que'er."
The little girl quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and answered timidly.
Wu Zhongxian asked again: "Xiao Que'er, where are your parents?"
"Father...and mother, they were beaten to death by officers and soldiers while they were fleeing..."
Xiao Que'er was very timid and did not dare to look into Wu Zhongxian's eyes when he spoke and kept his head lowered.
Feng Zhu in the carriage couldn't help but take another look at the little girl.
